The Invasion (2007)

A Washington DC psychiatrist (Nicole Kidman) has a patient (Veronica Cartwright) who insists her husband is not her husband. But what initially seems the singular psychosis of an individual suddenly spreads not only across the city but apparently the nation. Based on the novel THE BODY SNATCHERS by Jack Finney (this is the fourth film version), Oliver Hirschbiegel's take on the Finney novel has been recut by the studio with new scenes written and filmed a year after principal photography had been completed. This accounts for the rather schizophrenic nature of the film. Apparently Hirschbiegel had a more contemplative atmospheric piece in mind but the studio wanted a generic action/horror movie. There is enough that is good about THE INVASION that one regrets we in all likelihood never see the original director's cut. Still, except for the film's tiresome slam bang car chase finale and a phony resolution, there's an intelligence to the proceedings and a good central performance by Nicole Kidman. The film's frantic editing (some of the worst I've seen) does the film no favors. The cast includes Daniel Craig, Jeremy Northam, Jeffrey Wright, Josef Sommer, Roger Rees and Celia Weston.